Folate absorption and metabolism

Folic acid is absorbed from the small intestine. The amount of folic acid absorbed from food depends on the source but the average is around 50 per cent. Research shows that synthetic forms of folic acid are absorbed better than natural food forms with around 85 per cent of supplemental folic acid being absorbed if it is taken with a small amount of food.

Around 50 per cent of body stores are in the liver. The amount stored may last for about four months before symptoms of deficiency develop.